People
DOGE and other day 1 Trump appointees head for the exits at multiple agencies
The Interior Department and General Services Administration are seeing significant turnover in the leadership ranks.
Artificial Intelligence
Trump’s order to remove ‘woke’ AI from government may have ‘downstream impacts,’ experts worry
Some experts and advocates warned that last week's executive order will have a chilling effect on free speech.
Digital Government
SSA watchdog to audit agency’s performance metrics
Getting better data is essential to continued oversight, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., told reporters Wednesday.
People
OMB wants to break down barriers for CIOs, White House official says
Republicans also included a line in their funding bill to reiterate that CIOs should be involved in agencies' tech budgets.
People
New OPM head plans to cement focus on efficiency
Scott Kupor said he won’t be taking orders from DOGE, though he’s “happy to partner with people” that are helpful to his overall goals for the agency.
Digital Government
Lawmakers introduce bill to digitize government permitting
Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., called the paper-based permitting process “an archaic waste of time.”
People
State Department deputy Michael Rigas tapped as acting GSA head
Stephen Ehikian, who has served as the acting GSA administrator since Trump took office, will be staying on as deputy. Some in the agency speculate the change is due to DOGE fallout.
Artificial Intelligence
Congress’ AI moratorium isn’t dead yet, Rep. McCormick says
A provision preventing states from enforcing AI regulations did not make it into the final reconciliation law, but advocates are still pushing for its passage.
Digital Government
Justice pushes agencies to use AI-assisted translations, when offering them at all
The July 14 memo encourages agencies to determine which services would be better operated exclusively in English and to make use of AI where translations are needed.
Exclusive
People
The U.S. DOGE Service is still hiring
The hires are intended to fill what used to be the U.S. Digital Service after many employees there left or were laid off.
Digital Government
Government is making moves on mobile drivers licenses, GSA administrator says
Login.gov is planning on adding mDLs by March of next year.
Digital Government
Social Security signals potential benefit disruptions this fall for those still getting paper checks
Over half a million people still get their Social Security benefits via paper checks. They’ll need a waiver by the end of September to continue to do so, SSA says.
Policy
Fraud-fighting oversight committee gets a life extension in Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’
The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee was set to sunset in September, but now has life through 2034.
Digital Government
Inside efforts to capture federal data after ‘the big takedown’
America’s Data Index aims to serve as a “weather forecast” on the state of government data.
Digital Government
Trump’s 'big, beautiful bill' directs Treasury to find a replacement for Direct File
The IRS debuted Direct File — which enabled taxpayers to file online with the agency for free — as a pilot in 2024 and it received largely positive reviews from those that used it.
Digital Government
Portal of federal employment metrics to get a facelift, OPM announces
The announcement comes months after the removal of race and ethnicity data from the statistics about federal employees.
Exclusive
Artificial Intelligence
Senate Democrats want more information on SSA’s use of AI on its phone lines
A new letter sent to the SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano follows Nextgov/FCW reporting that an anti-fraud check installed on the agency’s phone lines found very little likely fraud.
Digital Government
SSA head wants to beef up agency tech as it sheds thousands of staff
Some experts are skeptical that technology can make up for staffing losses in critical parts of the agency.
Digital Government
Lawmakers spar over DOGE as Republicans look to lock in cuts
Republicans again blocked an attempt to subpoena billionaire and former DOGE leader Elon Musk.
Digital Government